A local council has raked in millions through controversial Clean Air Zone charges which charge petrol and diesel motorists to drive in their city every day.
The fines brought in across Sheffield have generated more than £13million for the local authority since its launch in February last year.
The charging zone, which covers the city’s inner ring road and city centre, requires certain polluting petrol and diesel cars to pay daily fees for entering or travelling within the protected area.
The CAZ charges £10 per day for higher polluting vehicles, vans and taxis travelling within or entering Sheffield’s inner ring road.
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But, larger vehicles including coaches, buses and heavy goods vehicles face a higher daily charge of £50.Owners of larger campervans and motorhomes can apply for a discounted rate, reducing their charge from £50 to £10 per day.
Drivers can pay the daily charge up to six days before travel, on the day itself, or up to six days after entering the zone.
Councillor Ben Miskell hailed the impact the CAZ has already had on the city describing the drop in air pollution during its first year as a “fantastic achievement for Sheffield”.
The city council stated that nitrogen dioxide levels have fallen “significantly” since the scheme’s introduction.
In its first year of operation, the Clean Air Zone generated £7.18million in total revenue, according to official reports. This was split between £2.4million in fees and £4.78million in fines for non-compliant vehicles.
During this period, 284,014 charges were issued to vehicles entering the zone. The council also handed out 65,733 penalties for non-payment of the daily charge.
While the daily fees may seem excessive, several vehicle categories are exempt from charges, including private cars, motorcycles and vehicles meeting the Government’s emission standards.
Buses, coaches and heavy goods vehicles must adhere to the minimum requirement of Euro 6. Meanwhile, vans, minibuses, taxis, private hire vehicles and cars must meet Euro 6 standards for diesel vehicles or Euro 4 for petrol vehicles.
Emergency service vehicles, disabled-adapted minibuses and vehicles used for educational school trips can also apply for local exemptions.
The council did note that while the CAZ is not intended to be permanent, it hopes the improvements in air quality will be long-lasting.
The charging system operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week throughout the year with vehicles required to meet specific emission standards to avoid charges.
However, the CAZ has been met with mixed views by drivers and residents within Sheffield with one person calling it nothing more than a “stealth tax”.
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:
A map of the Clean Air Zone in Sheffield
SHEFFIELD CITY COUNCIL
Posting on social media, they claimed: “Proof the CAZ has done nothing for air quality within the city and was only created to generate income for the council.
“It’s just a stealth tax for the council. To have it confirmed the air quality outside of the city centre is better, despite all the extra traffic that has been forced into it because of the CAZ, says it all. Get rid of it. It’s blatantly not fit for purpose for which it was ‘claimed’ to be created.”
Another person shared: “CAZ? You mean the poor or struggling self-employed tax to fund crap in the city that only a select few want? Good for them, not.”
